Adjustment disorder is a psychological disorder that involves behavioral or emotional symptoms following exposure to a specific stressor. It is usually described as a transient and relatively mild to moderate form of mental illness that usually develops in the first three months after the precipitating event. 

Adjustment disorders are characterized by a group of symptoms that may present with emotional, behavioral, or physical signs. Some of these might be depressive symptoms such as feeling sad or depressed, anxiety and worry, hopelessness or helplessness, irritability and restlessness. Psychological symptoms could include avoidance behaviors, reduced work or social interaction, and changes in behavior. 

The illness is generally said to begin three months after the stressful event and should disappear when the event is over or the person has adapted to it, which is often six months after. If the stressor situation itself is protracted, the condition may persist. 

The prevalence rates have been estimated to be around 12% in all forms of population groups which have been sampled in studies. Some studies have reported incidences as high as 23% among clinical patient populations. The most common diagnosis was the depressed mood followed by the anxious mood, mixed anxiety and depressed mood and conduct disturbance. 

Stress leads to the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the subsequent production of stress hormones including cortisol. 

Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that play roles in several mental health disorders. Some of the behavioral aspects that entail stress reactions include sleep, impulsivity or behavioral restraint, stimulus and control for autonomic functions such as heart rate regulation or blood pressure regulation, digestion, mobility or pain modulation. 

Adjustment disorders are caused by stress or some stressful event in the life of the patient, which is believed to be of considerable importance. These stressors can include virtually any life event, for example, the death of a family member, divorce or separation, employment termination, job transfer, financial problems, academic issues, physical or psychological illness, or trauma. Because many symptoms of adjustment disorder are learned in infancy, childhood, or adolescence, people with certain psychological features or disorders may be more susceptible to developing them. Stress management is one factor that has been known to contribute highly to the development of adjustment disorders. 

The manifestation, severity, and duration of the stressor are considered to influence the prognosis. In general, adjustment disorders caused by milder stressors or events and those which have clear perspectives for a resolution (for instance, a temporary conflict at work) discharge a more favorable prognosis. 

Large cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown that coping styles have a proof of concept for prognosis. Possessing the coping resources of social support, problem solving, and relaxation can help promote recovery. 

Adjustment disorders have a favorable outcome since they are usually stress-related and are expected to be resolved once the person adjusts to the stressor. 

Age Group: 

Adjustment disorders are a common mental health problem that can develop at any age ranging from childhood to adulthood.

There are no specific physical signs of adjustment disorders, which are largely diagnosed through clinical interview and presentation of certain psychological and behavioral characteristics. This is because adjustment disorders are classified under emotional and psychological disorders due to stressors and their determination depends on the thought process of the patient. 

Adjustment disorders may present some symptoms that are seen in depressive disorders including major depressive disorder or dysthymia. Some of the features which are present in both states include feelings of sadness, loss of interest, changes in appetite and sleep, and feeling worthless. 

Conditions of adjustment disorders include signs and symptoms, which may manifest rapidly and severely soon after the exposure to a stressor. In some cases, the onset of sustainable symptoms could be within a few days or weeks of the stressor. This may present as severe emotional upset, increased levels of anxiety, and evident poor functioning. 

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT places emphasis on cognition and Behavioral activation and alteration of negative thoughts and behaviors that cause distress. 
• Supportive Psychotherapy: This approach allows a person to vent the emotions, fears, thoughts and related occurrences caused by the stressor.
• Support and Education: Helping people to come out to their friends and families or relying on support groups can help people feel accepted.
• Stress Management: It may involve providing the clients with skills on how to deal with stress, anger, depression, anxiety or any other emotions in a better manner such as through use of relaxation techniques, mindfulness, deep breathing and time management skills. 

• Social Support: Help individuals maintain or establish friendships with friends and family as well as contact with support groups. Positive social interaction and confirmation can be effective in making the individual feel accepted and relieve the sensation of loneliness. 
  • Stress Reduction: Teach patients strategies for managing stress including mindfulness meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. These can also reduce anxiety thus enhance on the emotional regulation of the person. 
  • Healthy Lifestyle: Other measures could include engaging in exercise, eating a proper diet, and taking enough rest. Physical fitness, therefore, is known to have a direct impact on a persons’ state of mind and wellbeing. 
  • Encourage Engaging Activities: Promote engagement in effective leisure activities which may involve duties that are fun, and which make the client happy. Having hobbies or interests is a good way of distracting oneself and or finding ways of handling stress. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

• Lorazepam: It is widely used for as an anxiolytic and sedative benzodiazepine. It has individually higher pharmacokinetic properties, and it is utilized for the acute treatment of individuals with severe anxiety disorders. 
• Alprazolam: Alprazolam can be prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. It works relatively quickly which again it is ideal for use in managing acute cases of anxiety. 
• Diazepam: It may be prescribed and depends on the condition it is to be used for its anxiolytic and muscle-relaxing effects. It has a longer half-life compared to other benzodiazepines, which results to a more prolonged effect. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

• Fluoxetine: It is one of the first drugs of the SSRI class and is used for the management of depression, OCD, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
• Sertraline: It is approved for use in adults for the treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
• Paroxetine: It is employed in the treatment of such disorders as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Psychiatry/Mental Health

• Psychotherapy: The specification of the stressor, as far as the patient is aware of it or can describe it, defines the onset of psychotherapy. If the stress can be eliminated, decreased, or otherwise managed, the person’s nonadaptive behaviors might be reduced. 
• Pharmacological therapy: There is no specific cure for adjustment disorder, although pharmacological management is directed at managing particularly severe manifestations of the condition, including insomnia, anxiety, and panic attacks. The two drugs that most often are prescribed to patients with this ailment are benzodiazepines and antidepressants. 
• Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions: It assist the individual to recognize and counter put negative cognitions and negative automatic thoughts concerning the stressor. Help them change negative cognitive patterns of thinking and provide them with healthier thought patterns. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

• Psychoeducation Phase: Offer psychoeducation to clients with adjustment disorder so that they are aware of the conditions’ characteristics, the relationship between the symptoms and the stressor, as well as the probable prognosis of the disorder. Encourage participation in the treatment process, discuss the offered services and involve the individual in the treatment planning.
• Stabilization Phase: Some form of intervention within the first session that may include assessment for danger, harm or extreme discomfort. Concentration on stabilizing such manifestations, assisting the person in regulating intense feelings, and ensuring that the person feels safe.
• Treatment Planning: Overcome them in a coordinated manner by jointly creating a therapeutic plan that includes detailed instructions on the necessary actions toward goal attainment and the time-schedule of recovery.